Safety signaling device for double track railway systems



Dec. 12, 1950 s. L. CONRAD 2,533,758

SAFETY SIGNALENE DEVICE EoR DOUBLE 'mex RAILWAY sYsTEus Filed nec. 22, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 Lf'uuuuuul'uuluuu M "',1 QM" INVENTOR. Samue/ Lew/s Con/00.

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TTo/PNEYS Dec. l2, 1950 s. L. CONRAD 2,533,768

SAFETY SIGNALING DEVICE FOR DOUBLE TRACK RAILWAY SYSTEMS Filed Dec. 22, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATT RNEYS Patented Dec. 12, 1950 SAFETY SIGNALING DEV'ICE FOR DOUBLE TRACK RAILWAY SYSTEMS Samuel Lewis Conrad, Columbus, Ohio Application December 22, 1944, Serial No. 569,356

My present invention relates to safety signalling devices and more particularly to safety devices for a double track railway system or line wherein mechanically and automatically operated signalling devices are released and operated at predetermined points along the double track line to warn trains approaching from either or both directions of the presence of an obstruction or wreck on either track, or of the accidental or intentional damage to the tracks, or either of them. More particularly, the Iinvention has to do with the automatic mechanical or manual releasing of a plurality of torpedoes and their application to the tracks of the system and the simultaneous automatic mechanical or manual release and igniting of fusees along the right of way at predetermined locations to warn ap' proaching trains of danger along the double track, or either of them.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide mechanically and automatically released and operated signal devices to Warn the crews of trains approaching in either or both directions of the presence of an obstruction on either track creating a danger hazard, said signal devices supplementing the conventional train control system along the railroad.

Another object of my invention is to provide signalling means which are automatically operated through the medium of means extending along the right of way between the double tracks and with which the physical contact of an object.,

such as a derailed car, causes the signalling means to be automatically operated. 1

A further object of my invention is to provide means of the foregoing character for positively releasing warning signals on both tracks of the line; another object being to automatically place upon the inner rails of both pairs of tracks torpedoes at predetermined spaced points along the tracks immediately an obstruction or damage to either of the tracks occurs.

Another object of my invention is to provide automatically operated safety signal devices at points located at distances of several miles in opposite directions from the point where the Wreck or obstruction to either or both of the tracks occurred so as to warn approaching trains of the impending danger.

Another object of my invention is to lProvide 5 Claims. (Cl. 246-210) .I mechanically and automatically operated signal be easily adjusted and reset.

Another object of my invention is to provide improved signalling devices or a signalling system which is not dependent for its operation upon the use of electrical current and connections.

A further object of my invention is to provide a signalling system which extends along the right of way between a double track line which provides, in addition to means for signalling danger to approaching trains, a barrier or fence-like structure which prevents the unauthorized crossing of the tracks by cattle, or the like.

A further object of my invention is to provide a danger signalling system of the foregoing character including the use 'of torpedoes and fusees which are operated in conjunction with the present conventional electric signalling system to warn approaching trains that danger is present.

A further objectV of my invention is to provide a system of automatically mechanically ac tuated audible and visible signals which are normally tamper-proof and wherein the audible signals are placed in position upon the track rails when damage or an obstruction occurs to either track and to simultaneously release and ignitethe visible signaldevices at spaced points along the right of way at sufcient distances inboth directions from the scene -of the damage or obstruction to warn approaching trains in ample time for them to stop before reaching the scene of the damage. v

The foregoing and other objects and advantages- Fig. 1 is a diagramn'laticl view or layout of a double track railway system showing the application of the present invention thereto. v

. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly broken away, showing one of the stations andv certain preferred mechanism for releasing the. audible and visible signalling devices in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail fragmentary perspective view showing preferred mechanism for releasing one of the visible safety devices or signals in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional View taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional View, partly in elevation, taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View taken substantially along thel line 6-6 of Fig. 5, looking in' the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a perspective View, partly broken away, illustrating signalling device releasing means which may be manually operated to release the signal devices, and also showing means for adjusting the cables in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view, partly ink section, and on an enlarged scale, of one of the manually controlled signal device releasing means embodying the present invention.-

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood. that the invention is not limited' in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts" illustrated in the accompanying drawings; since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. It' is to be understood also that the phraseolog'y or terminology employed herein isV for the purpose of description and not of limitation..

Generally' speaking my= present invention re-v lates to safetyv signalling devices and' a seriesv or system of' such devices which are located along the right of way between a double track railway line and which are' operated to indicate tok the engineers and other crewmen of trains approaching in both directions, of an obstruction, damage, or wreckage, to either of the tracks` or along the tracks ofthe line.v In accordance with the invention, a fence-like structure extends be'- tween the tracks and at spaced points is provided with devices for applying torpedoes to a rail of both tracks to be exploded' by approaching trains and also to set off fusees at predetermined spaced points in opposite directions beyond the damage or obstruction, to thus give a visible signal to approaching trains. A seriesv of the torpedo setting or applying devices and also a series of the fusees. are automatically released upon the engagement of any object with the fence-like structure toperform the necessary operation of the warning signals. In addition to warning approaching trains of impending' danger along the tracks, the fence-like structure of my invention serves to prevent the unauthorized crossing and obstruction of the right of way by range cattle, horses, or the like.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, thereA is shown a pair of tracks I0 and I ly between which the safety signalling system, shown as a whole at I2, extends. At predetermined points along the right of way between the tracks signal containing and actuating boxes or stations t3 are located. and interspersed with Said stations are additional boxes v.or housings I4k which house mechanism for resetting the signal actuating means andV for permitting the actuation or setting of the signal devices by manual means.

Located between the spaced stations Vor boxes I3 and I 4 are pairs of sections ofv suitable 4 I5, the ends of the pipe being loosely mounted in openings or sockets in the end walls oi the boxes or housings i3 and I4. If desired, additional upright supports or posts, such as those shown at E6, may be provided for supporting the pipes I 5, see Figs. l and 2.

Extending through each of the pipes i5 is a pair of cables or wires I'I which are connected to signal releasing mechanisms located within the boxes. These cables extend continuously through the pipes and boxes and are capable of lengthwise movement in both directions relative to the pipes and boxes.

Each; oigthe4 boxes i3 contains a pair oi rotatable or oscillatable upright posts or supports I8 which carry oscillatable means for eiecting the release of torpedoes and of fusees. These oscillatable means comprise link members i9 having forked free ends, one such member i9 engaging each of the stop members Ila on the cables or wires Il'. The members i9 are connected to the upright supports t8 and serve to turn said supports when the cables l'l are moved lengthwise within the box or housing i3. Each of the upright supports i8 has xedly mounted thereon latch. releasing means` 2:6 for operating latch means 26a which serves to. normally engage and maintain al swinging or hinged platform mem,- ber in closed or inoperative position. This platform or plate ZI isv hingedly mounted at 22 toa supporting trough 23 and carries a pair of' torpedoes 2.4i which are adapted to be placed upon the adjacent rail lia when the latch Zila is released', there being, a spring 22a provided for moving the platform or plate 2l carrying the torpedoes' from itsy closed position, as Shown in full lines, Figs., 2t and 6, to its operativel or openy position, as shown inbroken lines in Fig. 6;. The trough-like member 234 carries a brace bar 2.5- which. is normally urged outwardly toward the rail ll la by a spring 26. The purpose of the menu. ber* 25,y is to engage the base of the rail Ha and maint-ain the torpedo carrying trough always in. operative relation to the rail.

It will be understood that since all of' the cables I1 are connected to the swingable arms [r9 through the medium of' the stop members Pta, movement of any cable in either direction will tend to release the latch members 20a and permit the application to the adjacent rai-ls of each pair of tracks, of a pair ofthe torpedoes 24'.

It is to be noted further Athat each of the stations or housings I3 is provided with a pair of upright tubular members 30 each of which contains and supports a fusee 3|. The fusees are normally urged upwardly toward their projected orexposed and operative positions by means of coil springs 32, see Fig. v6. Each of the tubular members 30 carries a fixed platform 33- provided with a reciprocable release pin or latch member 34 which is adapted to engage a supporting plate 32a for the fusee 3l. The pin 34' will maintain the plate 32a underv compression against the action of the compressed spring 32 Lwith the fusee 3|v normally within the tube ready to be released (see Figs. 3 and 6). An arm 35 is associated with each platform 33 and is mounted upon the rotatable post or rod i8 so as to be swung in a horizontal plane when the rod I8 is oscillated or rotated in either direction through the action of the members I9 and cable or cables I1. The arm 35 is in engagement with suitable linkage mecha-l nism, shown as a whole at 36, which serves, when the arm is moved in either direction, to withdraw the pin 36 from engagement with the fusee to release the latter at the proper time. It will be noted that each of the tubular members projects upwardly at 30a above the top wall of the housing or box member I3. The upper member of each tube contains a striker or igniting member 30h with which the fusee has a rubbing contact as released for the purpose of igniting the inflammable material carried by said fusee.

When any obstruction whatsoever distorts a section of the pipe I5 anywhere along the right of way, the cables therein are stretched and will actuate the link members I9 within the boxes I3 to rotate the posts I8, release the torpedo carrying platforms or plates 2I to permit torpedoes to be placed upon the adjacent rails IIa of both tracks and will simultaneously operate the retaining pin 34 for each of the fusees 3| to permit their release and illumination. Thus, upon any object distorting the fence-like structure, both audible and visible signals are released at predetermined spaced points along both tracks and the right of way so as to warn approaching trains of impending danger along the tracks. For example, if a landslide occurred at an area adjacent either of the tracks, material thereof engaging f the pipe sections I5 would stretch the cables I'I and release the safety signalling devices along the right of way in both directions. Moreover, if any object whatsoever comes into contact With either one or both of the pipes I5 with sufficient force to distort them, the signals are automatically and simultaneously set.

If desired, the release of the signals above referred to may be augmented by the mechanical release of semaphores 38 at one side of the double track line. This release is effected by providing the rotatable post I8 with a bracket 39 connected to a cable 4D running through a pipe 4I, the opposite end of the cable being connected in any suitable manner to the semaphore 38 to set the latter to provide additional signalling or warning means of the impending danger or obstruction along the track or tracks.

Referring particularly to Fig. 4 of the drawings it will be understood that it is desirable to permit the cables or wires I'I to have substantially frictionless lengthwise movement relative to the boxes I3 and I4. To permit such movement, the opposed walls of the boxes are provided with conventional bearing races 42 through which the n cables extend.

After the signals have been set and operated and thus served their purpose to prevent a possible train wreck, they may be reset manually by drawing the cables or wires I'I lengthwise to their original positions. Any of the pipe sections which may have been knocked loose from their supporting boxes may be returned to their original positions by sliding the ends thereof into suitable supporting openings or sockets provided in the walls of the boxes.

Referring now to Fig. l there is shown one of the boxes I4 which permits the readjustment of the cables to reset the signal releasing mechanism. The pairs of cables I1 extend through the boxes I4 in the same manner as in connection with the boxes I3. Located upon a transverse shaft journalled at opposite ends in the side walls of the box Il! is aspreader bar 5I which carries at its opposite ends grooved rollers 52, the grooves in said rollers engaging a pair of cables I1. Upon rotation of the shaft 5!) the rollers 52 tend to spread the cables apart, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 8. This action will either serve to reset the signalling releasing mechanism or to actuate said mechanism to manually release the audible and visible signals along the track system. The shaft 50 carries a gear 53 meshing with a gear 54 carried by a similar shaft 55, the gear 54 meshing with another gear 56 mounted upon a shaft 5'I. The shaft 55 carries a spiral gear 58 which is adapted to be driven by a spiral gear 59 mounted upon a shaft 60 upon the outer end of which `a hand crank 6I is mounted. Thus, by operating the hand crank 6I the shafts and gears will be rotated to operate the spreader bars 5I to spread both pairs of cables I1.

The cables I1 are maintained under tension by means of springs 62, Fig. 8, and the length of the cables may be adjusted by means of turnbuckles 83, also shown in Fig. 8.

It will be understood of course, that if the torpedo carrying plate 2| is damaged by the wheels of a railroad car or engine, a new plate can be readily substituted in its place. The torpedo releasing device may be set by swinging the plate` towards its closed position to be engaged by the releasing latch 20a.

Any suitable number ofthe units I3 may be provided and it will be understood that the cables I'I will be connected to these various units. I have illustrated only two of these units in Figure 1 but it will be understood that they will be located at regularly spaced intervals along the tracks.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a safety signalling system wherein a plurality of both audible and visible signals are automatically and simultaneously actuated throughout a distance of several miles along a double track railway line to warn trains approaching in both directions that some damage has occurred to one or both of the tracks of the line or that some obstruction has moved onto the right of way, set off the system, and become positioned or lodged upon either of the tracks to make it dangerous for an approaching train to proceed. It will be understood that the improved safety signalling system of my invention may be used in conjunction with the conventional type of electrically actuated control signals normally installed along a railway line and that my present improved system of signals is dependent in no way, nor has any direct connection with, the presently installed electric signalling system.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In an automatic mechanically operated safety signalling system for a double track railroad line, a plurality of longitudinally spaced signal units located between the spaced pairs of tracks, signal devices forming a part of each unit, one of said signal devices being carried by an arm which is associated with the adjacent track and is movable from an inoperative position where the signal device is spaced from the track to apposition where the signal device is on the track, another of said signal devices being carried by a plunger which is movable from an inoperative position to a position where the signal is exposed, a latch for normally holding said arm in inoperative position, a latch for normally holding said plunger in inoperative position, means for releasing said latches, said means including cables connecting all of said units and movable longitudinally to release said latches, said cables being disposed in conduits extending between said .units which will be displaced or bent upon being contacted by obstructions on the tracks so as to i `mei/e said. cables: longitudinally and release said vvlatches to thereby move the one type of signal onto. the track and to. expose the other type of signal.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein units are provided at selected intervals between said signal units for manually moving said Gables lon-,- gitudinally to manually actuate such signals or to reset the latches after they have been actuated.

3. A System according to claim 1 wherein the -signal units also include semaphore signals` which are mechanically actuated by movement of said cables. Y y f 4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the ends of the conduits are loosely mounted in said units,

5. In an automatic mechanically operated .safety signalling system for a double track railroad line, a plurality of longitudinally spaced signal bcxes located between the adjacent spaced inner tracks, signal devices carried by each of said boxes, said signal devices comprising arms extending from opposite sidesof the boxes towards the adjacent tracks, each of said arms being provided with a hinged section carrying a signal, said hinged section being swingable vvfrom an inoperative position to an operative position Where the signal carried thereby is positioned cn the track, said box containing at each side thereof another signal which is carried by a plunger that is movable from an inoperative position to a position where the signal is projected Afrom the box, latches for normally holding said v-hinged sections ofthe arms in irmperativeA position, latches for normally holdingv said plungers in inoperative position, means for lreleasing said latches, said means comprising one pair of cables one of which isv connected to the latches for the hinged sections and the other of which is confnected to the latches for the plungers which control the signals at one side of the boxes, a second pair of cables similarly connected te the latches for controlling the signals at the opposite side of the boxes, each of said pairs of cables being dis.- posed within a conduitwhich is interposed be..- tween said boxes.

SAMUEL LEWIS CONRAD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record irl the rile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Beakes Feb. 15, 1944 

